Brazil steelmaker Gerdau has started selling a new type of steel for the US, Brazilian and European automotive industries, the company said.
According to the long steel producer, the material is 20 percent more resistant to the heat and pressure, and will be used in diesel engines pistons, which use to work at high temperatures.
The company said the material has a high silicon content, which allows the steel to endure a temperature of up to 600o Celsius or 1,112 Fahrenheit degrees. Gerdau explained the new steel will allow engines to reach higher temperatures with more resistance, while reducing from 10 to 20 times the generation of iron oxide. The metal could easily be casted or welded, Gerdau added.
The product is being sold in Brazil, Europe and in the US. The company has invested about BRL 1 million ($240,720) to develop the application.